Chapter 30: A Genius Like a Demon

“Huh? Isn’t that Miss Tianxiang over there? Why is she with Li Tiande?” Li Shishi, ever sharp-eyed, suddenly spotted Qin Tianxiang in a nearby pavilion, with the notorious Li Tiande at her side.

Xiao Fei turned to look. “Indeed, what is that girl doing here? Odd... She looks drunk.”

“This isn’t good. Miss Qin must have been tricked by Li Tiande,” Li Shishi said anxiously.

“What? Tricked? Who the hell is Li Tiande?” Xiao Fei demanded urgently.

“Oh? You seem awfully concerned about Miss Qin,” Li Shishi remarked with a hint of jealousy.

“Come on, Sister, just tell me!” Xiao Fei was growing more frantic as he saw Qin Tianxiang being pulled toward a car by the man, their movements far from gentle.

Li Shishi instructed the boatman to pull ashore while quickly explaining to Xiao Fei what kind of man Li Tiande was. The more Xiao Fei learned, the more worried he became for Qin Tianxiang's safety.

“Xiao Fei, you mustn’t act rashly. We’re on the bustling Qinhuai River, and don’t forget—Li Tiande is Commander Hu’s nephew and the future son-in-law of Governor Jin,” Li Shishi cautioned.

The pair hurried ashore, only to see Qin Tianxiang already being helped into a car by Li Tiande. Xiao Fei knew that in the early Republic era, anyone who owned a car was certainly someone of importance.

Driven by his urgent desire to help, Xiao Fei wasn’t watching where he was going and collided with a young man, nearly knocking him into the river. This youth looked even younger than Xiao Fei by a year or two.

Before the youth could speak, a lackey behind him stepped forward and cursed, “Damn it, are you blind or just looking for trouble?”

Without another word, the lackey raised his hand to strike, but Xiao Fei, too anxious for patience, simply kicked the man straight into the Qinhuai River.

Surprisingly, the youth who had been bumped into wasn’t angry. Instead, he gave Xiao Fei a thumbs-up and praised him, “Wow, impressive skills! Big brother, who taught you to fight? Will you teach me?”

Xiao Fei couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated.

Li Shishi hastened forward and said, “Oh my, isn’t this Young Master Jin? This is my younger brother. He didn’t mean to run into you just now, so please, don’t take offense.”

“No problem at all. Miss, you’re truly beautiful. With such a lovely sister and a handsome brother, you two are a perfect match!” Young Master Jin replied with a smile.

What sort of logic was that? This kid was something else. Still, since he said Xiao Fei and Li Shishi made a good couple, Xiao Fei decided to let it go.

“Haha, Young Master Jin, you do know how to joke,” Li Shishi giggled. “But we really do have something urgent. We’ll visit you soon to apologize properly.”

Seeing that this young master was unpretentious and straightforward, Xiao Fei’s anger melted away, and he responded, “Young Master Jin, I’ll be sure to pay you a visit.”

With that, the two of them dashed off in pursuit of Li Tiande’s car. Yet in the blink of an eye, Li Tiande’s military vehicle sped away.

“Damn it!” Xiao Fei cursed, about to activate his Thunder Wing, when Li Shishi quickly stopped him.

“Xiao Fei, don’t make a scene; there are too many people around,” she warned.

But Xiao Fei was never one to care about such things.

This Young Master Jin was none other than Li Tiande’s brother-in-law, Jin Wanyu’s younger brother, Jin Zhengri.

Jin Zhengri glanced ahead. “Hmm? Isn’t that Li Tiande’s car? What’s going on? Why are you two chasing after him?”

With these questions in mind, Jin Zhengri caught up with Xiao Fei and Li Shishi. “Brother, sister, if you’re after that military car, why not ride with me? We can catch up.”

“Well... Young Master Jin, that’s your brother-in-law’s car up ahead...” Li Shishi reminded him.

“Hmph, I don’t acknowledge that bastard as my brother-in-law. Come on, get in!” Young Master Jin said generously.

Xiao Fei, eager to catch up, didn’t hesitate and climbed in, with Li Shishi following.

“Hey, hey, Young Master, save me! Save me!” the lackey Xiao Fei had kicked into the river was spluttering for help.

“Hmph, you sycophantic lackey, how many times have I told you not to act that way? Just stay in the river. Driver, let’s go!” Jin Zhengri ordered. Though a young master, he never acted the part and despised those who bullied others on his behalf. Having studied Western thought with his sister Jin Wanyu and influenced deeply by their father, he was indeed a rare talent.

Xiao Fei, worried for Qin Tianxiang’s safety, kept urging the driver to go faster. Soon, they caught up with the car ahead. Peering from a distance, Xiao Fei was relieved to see that Li Tiande was behaving himself for the moment and hadn’t taken advantage of Qin Tianxiang.

By then, Jin Zhengri asked, “So, why are you chasing Li Tiande’s car?”

“Hmph, it’s your so-called good brother-in-law! Damn it, he’s preying on innocent girls!” Xiao Fei snapped.

“What? That beast! Just wait until I report him to my sister! Don’t worry, I’ll help you,” Jin Zhengri said indignantly.

With the situation a little calmer, Xiao Fei realized that this young master was nothing like the typical spoiled rich kids; he was starting to like the guy.

Since Qin Tianxiang was not in immediate danger, the group chatted idly.

“What, your name is Jin Zhengri? Goodness! Does your grandfather or any of your father’s brothers happen to be named Jin Richeng?” Xiao Fei asked, astounded.

“No, my grandfather is Jin Buhuan, my father is Jin Shaohua, and I have a sister named Jin Wanyu. That’s all in my family. Oh, by the way, big brother, what does ‘Wo ri’ mean? You said it just now,” Jin Zhengri asked.

“Uh... Well...” Xiao Fei hesitated, then made something up. “‘Wo ri’ is a dialect from the capital—it’s just an exclamation, like ‘ah,’ ‘oh,’ or ‘hmm.’”

“‘Wo ri,’ what a peculiar expression. Interesting!” Jin Zhengri immediately tried it out, making Xiao Fei chuckle.

But clever Li Shishi seemed to sense that Xiao Fei was toying with Jin Zhengri. She whispered, “Brother Dong, ‘Wo ri’ doesn’t really mean that, does it?”

“Nothing escapes you, Sister. ‘Ri’ actually means...” Xiao Fei bent down and quietly explained.

Li Shishi’s face flushed crimson. “You’re impossible!”

“Hey, hey, there are other people here. If you two want to get all lovey-dovey, I can get out and give you some privacy. I hear the experience is rather different in a car,” Jin Zhengri teased.

“‘Wo ri,’ you really are a devilish little genius, kid. You know, in the future, this sort of thing becomes quite trendy, and it even has a special name: ‘car shaking,’” Xiao Fei laughed.

“Really? But if it’s in the future, how do you know about it, big brother?” Jin Zhengri asked, puzzled.

“Uh... Quick, quick, don’t fall behind!” Xiao Fei dodged the question.

He then taught Jin Zhengri several modern slang expressions such as “Wo kao,” “Wo le ge qu”—all beginning with “Wo.” Jin Zhengri and Li Shishi were both left speechless, and the young master’s admiration for Xiao Fei only grew.

“Big brother, you’re the real genius here. I’m impressed. From now on, I’ll follow you,” Jin Zhengri said sincerely.

First, he had recruited the nephew of the Bandit-Suppression Commander into his rebel band, and now the son of the Jiangning Governor himself. This was madness! Indeed, he was no ordinary man, Xiao Fei thought with a hint of pride.

Soon, Li Tiande’s car stopped before a lavish manor, and Xiao Fei’s car parked discreetly nearby.

This was Li Tiande’s secret hideaway for pleasure, far from prying eyes and without even gatekeepers.

“Let me go... Don’t touch me... Where am I...” Qin Tianxiang, muddled and feverish from the drug, felt awful all over.

“This is my home. You’re drunk, so rest here for a while,” Li Tiande said, dragging her inside and ordering the driver to leave so as not to be discovered.

He laid Qin Tianxiang on the bed and impatiently began undressing, when suddenly someone knocked at the door.

Li Tiande froze in shock. This was his secret manor—who could it be?

He quickly buttoned his shirt, grabbed his pistol, and approached the door. “Who’s there?”

“Young Master Li, it’s me, Shishi,” Li Shishi answered, feigning charm.

Li Shishi! Li Tiande had long lusted after her beauty but had never dared approach her while she was Colonel Noda’s exclusive mistress. Now that Noda Yoshihiko had been burned alive, he figured she couldn’t stand her loneliness anymore. But how had she found this place?

No matter, Li Tiande thought. He put his pistol away and hurriedly opened the door. There stood Li Shishi, dazzling and radiant.

“Miss Shishi, it’s really you.” Li Tiande practically drooled as he spoke.

“What, does Young Master Li intend to let me stand outside?” she teased.

“No, no, please, come in!” he said, ushering her inside.

What a day, he thought gleefully. First, a beauty falls into my lap, and now another one comes to my door.

After only a few words, Li Tiande was already hinting at his intentions, and Li Shishi offered no resistance.

Holding her delicate hand, Li Tiande led Li Shishi into another bedroom, shut the door with a bang, and hastily stripped off his shirt.

Just then, the door was suddenly kicked open. A frosty beauty stood in the doorway, her cold gaze enough to chill the room.

Li Tiande turned around in shock, only to be stunned speechless. “Wanyu, what are you doing here?”

Without a word, Jin Wanyu stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face before turning on her heel and leaving.

Behind her stood a young stranger, grinning mischievously at Li Tiande.

Li Tiande was utterly bewildered, having no idea what had just happened.